Heroes of Running 2005

Every reason to run is a good one.

It's been a year since doping scandals tarnished the image of U.S. sprinting, and Justin Gatlin and Lauryn Williams are heading the recovery effort. This past August, in Helsinki, the two sensations led their 100-meter World Championship finals from start to finish (Gatlin: 9.88; Williams: 10.93). Gatlin didn't stop there. After winning the 100 meters by the largest margin in the Championship's 22-year history, he took gold in the 200 meters (20.04). "What better way for me to show what I'm capable of than to go out and dominate in both events?" says Gatlin. He had nearly done the same thing during last year's Olympics, taking the gold in the 100 meters (9.85) and bronze in the 200 meters (20.03). While Gatlin's victory over Maurice Greene in the 100 meters in Athens signaled a changing of the guard in men's track, Williams's leadership emerged after her teammates Kelli White and Torri Edwards were suspended for failed drug tests and Marion Jones didn't qualify for the event. Williams stepped up and won the silver in 10.96.

Both sprinters are aware of the pressure that comes with being elite sprinters in this post-Balco age. "Anybody can take drugs [and win]," says 23-year-old Gatlin. "I think right now we have our youth on our side and our hunger to be better." For her part, Williams, 22, admits to being scared enough of the drug scandals to even be wary of her multivitamins. "I just want to be 100 percent me," she says. Together they're leading a wave of young talent out to prove that the future of track is not only bright but also clean.